West Valley suspect arrested in string of Summit County burglaries

The Summit County Sheriff's Office arrested a West Valley man on Friday in connection with a string of burglaries and car thefts in Summit County and the Salt Lake area.

Ronnie Wakefield, who is 34 years old, has been preliminarily charged with two counts of automobile burglary, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, unlawful possession of another person's identification and financial card, and unlawful use of another person's financial card.

According to a report, a woman contacted dispatch after her cell phone was stolen from a business in the Kimball Junction area. She tracked her phone using the Find My Phone application and provided deputies with a description of the suspects and their vehicle.

Deputies stopped the vehicle while it was traveling on Interstate 80 and found the cell phone, along with several other items that had been reported stolen earlier in in the day, including a wallet and an iPod. Three suspects, including Wakefield, were arrested and preliminarily charged with theft.

During the investigation, deputies determined Wakefield had used one of the stolen credit cards at a gas station in the Kimball Junction area.

Detective Kacey Bates said the Sheriff's Office is investigating whether Wakefield is also connected to other crimes in Summit County and Salt Lake.

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"At this time, it is really hard to say whether his case is linked to others, though we think some are connected," Bates said. "Once we gather all of our information it will be easier to make that determination."